IQNA

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani thanked the Iraqi government and nation for hosting millions of pilgrims traveling to the Arab country in the Arabeen season.

Speaking at a cabinet session on Wednesday, the president described the massive Arbaeen march as a unique event that displays the grandeur of Islam and the school of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS).

He appreciated the efforts made in Iran to facilitate the Iranian pilgrims’ trip to Iraq and those by the Iraqi nation and government for hosting and ensuring the security of the Arbaeen pilgrims.

More than 2 million Iranians are expected to take part in this year’s pilgrimage.

Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).

Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

Arbaeen falls on October 30 this year.

Elsewhere in his remarks on Wednesday, Rouhani referred to the brutal killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Al Saud regime and called for impartial investigation into the murder.

Khashoggi, who was living in Washington, disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 to get documents for his forthcoming marriage.

Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Khashoggi, 59, was killed in a fight in the consulate. A Saudi official later said that 15 Saudi nationals sent to Turkey to confront Khashoggi had threatened him with being drugged and kidnapped and then killed him in a chokehold when he resisted.